Holder for an x-ray sensing device

ABSTRACT

A holder for an x-ray sensing device having a first retention member and a handle. The first retention member includes a back plate, a first retention guide, and a second retention guide. The first retention guide is connected with an end of the back plate and the second retention guide connected with an opposing end of the back plate. The first retention guide faces the second retention guide. The handle is connected with the first retention member. Preferably, the first retention member includes a retention stop on a front surface of the back plate and between the retention guides.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This continuation application claims the benefit and priority of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/985,381, filed Nov. 11, 2004 now U.S.Pat. No. 7,226,208, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates generally to sensor holders, and in particular,to a holder for a dental x-ray sensing device.

Dental radiographs are made using x-ray examination units, oftenincluding an x-ray cone or tube positioned proximate the patient andaligned to take x-rays of certain teeth. Dental x-ray sensing devices,which include including x-ray film units, digital x-ray sensors, chargecoupled devices, phosphor imaging plates or the like, often have agenerally flat or plate-like configuration and standardized dimensionsso that the sensing device can be placed into the oral cavity.

The sensing device is placed into the patient's mouth and held in placeproximate to the tooth or teeth to be examined. The x-ray's are directedthrough the target teeth and then through the sensor. It has been foundthat proper orientation of the sensor is required to eliminatedistortions and improper focus.

To ensure proper orientation of the sensing device, sensor carriers orholders with “bite blocks” have been developed. These devices often havea plate for holding the sensing device and a bite block that the patientbites down upon to position the device and the carried sensor. A biteblock is shown for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,473,026.

Different sensing devices are often used depending upon the area of themouth to be examined. This may include for example, endo, posterior,anterior, left, right, upper and lower bite wings, and the like. Knownbite blocks and sensor holders have been individually designed andmanufactured for each different type of sensing device. The dimensionsof the sensing device and the holder dictate the degree of securedpositioning of the sensing device in the holder.

A dental professional may have a large number of x-ray sensing deviceswith varying sizes and shapes, and hence, a similarly large number ofsensor holders. The dental professional is often faced with employing adifferent sensing device or set of sensing devices, holders and biteblocks depending upon the particular x-ray procedure being employed andthe area of the mouth to be examined. At best, it is time consuming tochange between sensing devices, sensor holders and bite blocks.

Additionally, some of the known sensor holders are fairly complex indesign, and therefore may be relatively costly to manufacture, see forexample U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,885. Since some of the sensor holders maynot be inexpensive, they must be reused instead of disposed of. In orderto reuse the holders, they typically need to be decontaminated andsterilized, or covered, every time they are inserted into a patient'smouth, which can be a rather cumbersome procedure.

Many of the sensor holders were designed for use with x-ray film units,which are more robust, and therefore they may damage a digital x-raysensor, which is more fragile. Since the digital x-ray sensors can berelatively expensive, much care must be used when using them with manyof the current sensor holders.

A need exists therefore, for a sensor holder which can accommodatedifferent sizes and shapes of sensing devices. It has also been foundthat a need exits for a sensor holder which can hold a sensing device ina variety of positions so that different areas of the mouth may beexamined using only one sensor holder. A need also exists for a sensorholder which can be manufactured at a lower cost, thus allowing the userto dispose of the holder. Additionally, a need exists for an improvedsensor holder which prevents damage to digital x-ray sensors.

SUMMARY

The present invention is defined by the following claims, and nothing inthis section should be taken as a limitation on those claims. By way ofintroduction, the preferred embodiments described below relate to aholder for an x-ray sensing device having a first retention member and ahandle. The first retention member includes a back plate, a firstretention guide, and a second retention guide. The first retention guideis connected with an end of the back plate and the second retentionguide connected with an opposing end of the back plate. The firstretention guide faces the second retention guide. The handle isconnected with the first retention member. Preferably, the firstretention member includes a retention stop on a front surface of theback plate and between the retention guides.

The preferred embodiments further relate to a holder for an x-raysensing device having a handle, a first retention member, and a secondretention member. The first retention member includes a first backplate, a first retention guide connected with an end of the first backplate and a second retention guide connected with an opposing end of thefirst back plate. The first retention guide faces to the secondretention guide. The second retention member includes a second backplate, a third retention guide connected with an end of the second backplate and a fourth retention guide connected with an opposing end of thesecond back plate. The third retention guide faces to the fourthretention guide. The first retention member is connected with one end ofthe handle and the second retention member is connected with an opposingend of the handle.

The preferred embodiments further relate to a holder for an x-raysensing device having a handle and a retention member. The retentionmember includes a back plate, a first retention guide connected with anend of the back plate and a second retention guide connected with anopposing end of the back plate. The first retention guide faces to thesecond retention guide. Each retention guide forms a generally u-shapedcross-section for receiving an x-ray sensor unit and a retention groovefor receiving an x-ray film unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a holder for an x-ray sensor and/oran x-ray film unit, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 depicts an enlarged partial perspective view of a holder for anx-ray sensor and/or an x-ray film unit holding an x-ray sensor, inaccordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 depicts an enlarged partial perspective view of a holder for anx-ray sensor and/or an x-ray film unit holding an x-ray film unit, inaccordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 depicts side view of a holder for an x-ray sensor and/or an x-rayfilm unit holding an x-ray sensor, in accordance with one preferredembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view an x-ray sensor, in accordance withone preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 depicts a top view a holder for an x-ray sensor and/or an x-rayfilm unit, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view a holder for an x-ray sensor and/or anx-ray film unit, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 8 depicts a top view a holder for an x-ray sensor and/or an x-rayfilm unit, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 depicts a perspective view a holder for an x-ray sensor and/or anx-ray film unit, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 10 depicts a partial perspective view a holder for an x-ray sensorand/or an x-ray film unit, in accordance with one preferred embodimentof the invention.

It should be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity ofillustration, elements shown in the Figures have not necessarily beendrawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements areexaggerated relative to each other for clarity. Further, whereconsidered appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among theFigures to indicate corresponding elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of a holder 100for an x-ray sensing device 120, according to one preferred embodiment.The holder 100 is designed to hold and retain the x-ray sensing device120 in a multitude of positions. Preferably, the holder 100 ismanufactured using an injection molded process in order to reduce costs.However, holder 100 can be manufactured in one of many ways. Forexample, holder 100 may be machined, thermoformed, and hand-made.Preferably, in order to reduce costs and maintain rigidity, holder 100is a one-piece unit which is integrally formed. However, holder 100 maycomprise multiple parts which are then assembled and fitted together.Preferably, holder 100 is constructed from a rigid yet somewhat flexiblematerial, such as but not limited to: metals such as iron, steel,stainless steel, aluminum, silver, titanium, and brass; plastics, suchas ethylene, vinyl, acetate; acrylics, such asacrylonitrol-butadine-styrene; resins; and polymers such aspolycarbonate. The holder 100 may be colored any one of variousdifferent colors depending on the size and type of sensors used. Forexample, the holder may be colored white for a size two x-ray film unitor colored green for a size zero x-ray film unit.

X-ray sensing device 120 is any device which can be used to senseradiation, and preferably x-ray radiation. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-5,x-ray sensing device 120 includes such devices as an x-ray film unit122, which uses x-ray film 129 to detect x-rays, an x-ray sensor unit124, which uses a digital x-ray sensor 128 or a charge coupled device todetect x-rays, a phosphor imaging plate or the like. X-ray sensor unit124 may include a wire 126 which is used to provide power and/ortransfer signals between the digital x-ray sensor 128 and a controlunit, not shown. Preferably, x-ray sensing device 120 is a dental x-raysensing device which is sized for use in the mouth of a patient in orderto take x-ray scans of a patient's teeth.

The holder 100 includes a first retention member 102 and a handle 106connected with the first retention member 102, as illustrated in FIGS.1-3. The first retention member 102 includes a back plate 140, a firstretention guide 142, and a second retention guide 144, as illustrated inFIGS. 1, 7, and 9. The first retention guide 142 is connected with anend of the back plate 140 and the second retention guide is connectedwith an opposing end of the back plate 140. The first retention guide142 faces the second retention guide 144. Preferably, the back plate140, the first retention guide 142, and the second retention guide 144are integrally formed, as shown in FIGS. 1, 7, and 9. Preferably, eachretention guide 142, 144 forms a generally u-shaped cross section.

More preferably, each retention guide 142, 144 forms a generallyu-shaped cross section having a gripping portion 143, 145, respectively,wherein each gripping portion 143, 145 curves inwards towards the backplate 140, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 6, 8, and 9. The gripping portions143, 145 help to better hold the x-ray sensing device 120 in place andallow the holder 100 to accommodate a wide variety of x-ray sensingdevices with varying thicknesses, such as both x-ray film units 122 andx-ray sensor units 124, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 8, or such asx-ray sensor units of varying thicknesses. Preferably, the grippingportions 143, 145 are apply enough pressure on the x-ray sensing device120 to hold the device 120 in place without damaging the device 120.With this configuration, holder 100 can receive the x-ray sensing device120, by sliding the x-ray sensing device 120 in between the firstretention guide 142 and the second retention guide 144 and against theback plate 140, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3.

Preferably the retention guides 142, 144 are sized such that x-raysensing device 120 fits firmly between the first retention guide 142 andthe second retention guide 144 and against the back plate 140, asillustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 8, and 9. Preferably each retention guide142, 144 extends from an upper portion of the back plate 140 to a lowerportion of the back plate 140, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 9. Asdefined herein, an upper portion of the back plate 140 is a portion ofthe back plate 140 that is within an upper half 158 of the back plate140 and a lower portion of the back plate 140 is a portion of the backplate 140 that is within a lower half 159 of the back plate 140.Dividing the back plate 140 into two halves, wherein each half extendsfrom the first retention guide 142 to the second retention guide 144,one half is the upper half 158 and the opposing half is the lower half159, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 9, wherein the back plate 140 isdivided into halves by imaginary line 1-1 located centrally in backplate 140.

In one embodiment the first retention member 102 includes a retentionstop, such as an upper retention stop 150, on a front surface 154 of theback plate 140. The retention stop is preferably between the retentionguides 142, 144, as illustrated in FIGS. 6-9. Preferably the firstretention member 102 comprises an upper retention stop 150 connectedwith an upper portion of the back plate 140, and a lower retention stop152 opposed to the upper retention stop 150 and connected with a lowerportion of the back plate 140. Preferably both the upper and lowerretention stops, 150, 152 are located between the retention guides 142,144. The retention stops 150, 152 include a portion which extends awayfrom the back plate 140 and allow for a user to position the x-raysensing device 120 either towards the bottom portion of the back plate140, or towards the upper portion of the back plate 140, as illustratedin FIGS. 2 and 7. By allowing a user to change the position of the x-raysensing device 120 in this way, the holder 100 allows a user to positionthe x-ray sensing device 120 more accurately when x-ray either the upperor lower teeth in a patient's mouth. Preferably, each retention stop150, 152 extends in a direction from the first retention guide 142 tothe second retention guide 144, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

Preferably, the first retention member 102 includes flexible members151, 153 attached to each retention stop 150, 152, respectively, at oneend and attached to the back plate 140 at a second end, as illustratedin FIG. 7. The flexible members 151, 153 may be formed in the back plate140, or may be formed on the back plate 140, and allow the retentionstops 150, 152 to move back and forth upon insertion of an x-ray sensingdevice 120 into the first retention member 102. Additionally, byallowing the retention stops 150, 152 to move back and forth, theflexible members 151, 153 also allow the retention stops 150, 152 toapply an appropriate amount of pressure on the x-ray sensing device 120,such that the x-ray sensing device 120 is held in place yet not damaged.In one embodiment, the first retention member 102 includes more than oneupper retention stop 150, as illustrated in FIG. 7. The additionalretention stop 150 allows for better placement of the x-ray sensingdevice 120.

In one embodiment, each retention guide 142, 144 forms a retentiongroove 146, 148 for receiving an x-ray film unit 122, as illustrated inFIGS. 1, 4, and 6, and 8. The retention grooves 146, 148 forms a u-shapecross section which is smaller than the u-shaped cross section formed byeach retention guide 142, 144. By forming a smaller u-shaped crosssection, the retention grooves 146, 148 are better able to receive anx-ray film unit 122, since generally, the x-ray film unit 122 has asmaller thickness T₂ than a thickness T₁ of the x-ray sensor unit 124,as illustrated in FIG. 1. In this manner by using retention grooves 146and 148, a single retention member 102, 104 is able to accommodate bothan x-ray film unit 122 and an x-ray sensing device 120, as illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 8.

In one embodiment, the holder 100 includes a first wire retention member108 on the handle 106, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Wire retention member108 is able to accommodate and grasp a wire such as the wire 126 foundin x-ray sensor unit 124. Preferably, the handle 106 also includes agroove 113 in which wire can reside in. Working in conjunction with wireretention member 108, groove 113 is able to accommodate and secure awire such as the wire 126 found in x-ray sensor unit 124, thereforepreventing the wire from becoming tangled within a user's mouth.Preferably, the wire retention member 108 is formed on the handle 106adjacent the first retention member 102.

In one embodiment, the holder 100 includes a second wire retentionmember 110 on the handle 106, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Wire retentionmember 110 is able to accommodate and grasp a wire such as the wire 126found in x-ray sensor unit 124. Preferably, the handle 106 also includesa groove 111 in which wire can reside in. Working in conjunction withwire retention member 110, groove 111 is able to accommodate and securea wire such as the wire 126 found in x-ray sensor unit 124, thereforepreventing the wire from becoming tangled within a user's mouth.Preferably, the wire retention member 110 is formed on the handle 106adjacent a second retention member 104.

In one embodiment, the holder 100 includes a second retention member 104connected with the handle 106, wherein the second retention member 104is opposed to the first retention member 102. The second retentionmember 104 functions essentially the same way as the first retentionmember 102 and may include many of the same elements as found in thefirst retention member 102. In one embodiment, the second retentionmember 104 includes a back plate 160, retention guides 162, 164,gripping portions 163, 165, retention grooves 166, 168, an upperretention stop 170, and a lower retention stop 172, as illustrated inFIGS. 1, 3, and 6-9. Preferably, the first retention member 102 isconnected with one end of the handle 106 and the second retention member104 is connected with an opposing end of the handle 106 as illustratedin FIG. 1. Preferably, the first and second retention members 102, 104are each sized differently so that each retention member 102, 104 canaccept an x-ray sensing device 120 of a different size. For example, inone embodiment the first retention member 102 may be sized to accept afirst x-ray sensing device 120 and a second retention member 104 may besized to accept a second x-ray sensing device 120, wherein the size ofthe first x-ray sensing device 120 is not equal to the size of thesecond x-ray sensing device 120.

In one embodiment, the holder 100 comprises a bite block 130 on a backsurface 174 of the back plate 160, wherein the back surface 174 opposesa front surface 176, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 8. The bite block 130is preferably positioned centrally on the back plate between the upperretention slot 170 and lower retention slot 172 as illustrated in FIG.3. When the holder 100 is inserted into a patient's mouth, the patientis able to bite down with the patient's teeth on the bite block 130 andengage the first retention member 102. The bite block 130 allows formore accurate positioning of the holder 100, and more specifically thefirst retention member 102 and the sensor 120, within a patient's mouth.Preferably, the bite block 130 includes a series of serrations 132, asillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6, in order to provide additional grip andless movement for the holder 100 within the patient's mouth. Preferably,the serrations 132 are diamond shaped and are indented into the biteblock.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the length L from one end of the holder 100 toanother end of the holder 100 in a direction from a first retentionmember to a second retention member 104, is approximately between 5 and50 centimeters and more preferably between 10 and 30 centimeters andmost preferably between 15 and 25 centimeters. Additionally, thedistance D₁ between a first retention groove 146 and a second retentiongroove 148 is preferably between 3 and 8 centimeters. Additionally, adistance D₂ between a first retention guide 142 and a second retentionguide 144, as illustrated in FIG. 6, is preferably between 3 and 8centimeters. A distance D₃ between the back plate 140 and a far end of aretention guide 142, 144, as illustrated in FIG. 6, is preferablybetween 1 and 20 millimeters, and more preferably, between 2 to 10millimeters, and a distance D₄ between one end of the retention grooveand a second end of the retention groove, as illustrated in FIG. 6, isapproximately between 0.1 and 4 millimeters, and more preferably,between 0.5 and 3 millimeters. A distance D₅ from the back surface ofthe back plate 140 to a distal surface of the bite block 130, asillustrated in FIG. 6, is preferably between 1 and 3 centimeters.

X-ray sensing devices 120 can vary in width W, height H and thickness Tas illustrated in FIG. 5. Preferably the width W of the x-ray sensingdevice 120 is between 3 and 8 centimeters. Also preferably the height Hof the x-ray sensing device 120 is between 1 and 4 centimeters and thethickness T is preferably between 0.1 and 20 millimeters, and morepreferably, between 1 to 10 millimeters.

In one embodiment, the holder 100 includes a pivoting member 182attached to the back plate 140 of the first retention member 102 at apivot point 180 and connected with the handle 106, as illustrated inFIG. 10. The pivoting member 182 allows the first retention member 102to be pivoted at the pivot point 180, thus providing the holder 100 withthe ability to rotate the retention member 102 at a variety of angleswith respect to the handle 106. The pivoting member 182 also providesthe user with a variety of configurations in which the holder may beplaced, and therefore provides the user with additional flexibility whenpositioning the holder 100, and more specifically, the retention member102. Preferably, the back plate 140 includes a series of stops 184projecting radially outwards from the pivot point 180. The stops 184 mayeither be in the form of grooves formed in the back surface 156 or inthe form of projections formed on the back surface 156. The stops 184engage the pivoting member 182 and stop the pivoting member 182 frompivoting at preselected angles with respect to the handle 106, asillustrated in FIG. 10.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with referenceto specific illustrative embodiments thereof, it is not intended thatthe invention be limited to those illustrative embodiments. Thoseskilled in the art will recognize that variations and modifications canbe made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. A holder for an x-ray sensing device having a retention member, theretention member comprising: a back plate; a first retention guideconnected with a first end of the back plate; a second retention guideconnected with a second end of the back plate opposed to the first end,wherein the first retention guide faces the second retention guide; andan upper retention stop connected with the back plate and between theretention guides, wherein the retention member is configured to hold thex-ray sensing device in a central position between the first and secondretention guides and against the upper retention stop, and configured tohold the x-ray sensing device in a lower position wherein a top edge ofthe x-ray sensing device abuts the upper retention stop.
 2. The holderfor an x-ray sensing device of claim 1, wherein the x-ray sensing deviceis movable from the central position to the upper position.
 3. Theholder for an x-ray sensing device of claim 1, wherein the x-ray sensingdevice is movable from the central position to the upper positionwithout having to remove the x-ray sensing device from the holder. 4.The holder for an x-ray sensing device of claim 1, wherein the upperretention stop is opposed to a lower retention stop, and wherein theupper and lower retention stops are located between the retentionguides.
 5. The holder for an x-ray sensing device of claim 4, whereinthe retention member is configured to hold the x-ray sensing device inan upper position wherein a bottom edge of the x-ray sensing deviceabuts the lower retention stop.
 6. The holder for an x-ray sensingdevice of claim 1 further comprising a flexible member attached to theupper retention stop at a first end and to the back plate at a secondend.
 7. The holder for an x-ray sensing device of claim 1, wherein eachretention guide only extends from an upper portion of the back plate toa lower portion of the back plate.
 8. A holder for an x-ray sensingdevice having a retention member, the retention member comprising: aback plate; a first retention guide connected with a first end of theback plate; and a second retention guide connected with a second end ofthe back plate opposed to the first end, wherein the first retentionguide faces the second retention guide, wherein the first retentionguide includes a gripping portion which curves inwards towards the backplate, wherein the retention member is configured to receive the x-raysensing device by sliding the x-ray sensing device in between the firstand second retention guides and against the back plate, wherein thegripping portion is moveable from a first position which is closest tothe back plate and a second position which is further away from the backplate than the first position, and wherein the gripping portion ispivotable at where the gripping portion curves inwards.
 9. The holderfor an x-ray sensing device of claim 8, wherein the first retentionguide forms a bend from which the gripping portion extend.
 10. Theholder for an x-ray sensing device of claim 9, wherein the grippingportion extends in a generally linear direction from the bend.
 11. Theholder for an x-ray sensing device of claim 8 further comprising upperand lower retention stops located between the retention guides.
 12. Theholder for an x-ray sensing device of claim 8 further comprising a wireretention member on a handle connected with the retention member. 13.The holder for an x-ray sensing device of claim 8, wherein eachretention guide only extends from an upper portion of the back plate toa lower portion of the back plate.